Arbeloa: I thought Ozil was joking about leaving Madrid

Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has revealed that he thought Mesut Ozil was joking when he told team-mates he was leaving this summer.

The Germany midfielder left the Santiago Bernabeu on transfer deadline day in a €50 million move to Arsenal, fighting off reported interest in the 24-year-old from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain.

"I'm a little surprised about the transfer," Arbeloa told reporters on Tuesday. "It's a shame and a big loss in our locker room, personally and in footballing terms.

"He said goodbye on Sunday, but I thought he was joking. Ozil is different, there is no one else like him in the world. He makes such a difference."

Fellow Madrid star and Spain international Isco - whose arrival in the summer is considered one of the reasons for Ozil being cast out of the Liga giants - lamented the ex-Werder Bremen starlet's exit to the Emirates.

"Actually, I was surprised that Ozil left and moreso because he said last week that he was going to stay," the attacking midfielder said. "Ozil, we all know, has great quality and is a player can change the balance of a game."

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La Liga makes €102m profit, Premier League loses €487m: Europe’s top five league summer spending in numbers

With the summer transfer window having come to an end in the major European leagues, Goal takes a look at which competition spent the most

La Liga can consider itself to be one of the winners of the summer transfer window as the only of the top-five leagues to record a significant profit ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, which was in stark contrast to the mammoth deficit that the Premier League racked up.

Despite Real Madrid smashing the world-record transfer fee with the arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham for €100 million and Barcelona spending €57m on Brazil international Neymar, the Spanish top flight still recorded a positive balance of €102.6m.

The main reason for La Liga's profitable summer is the departure of Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil, while Radamel Falcao, Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Thiago Alcantara all brought in big fees, too.

In second position, Serie A recorded a modest €3.1m profit after a busy summer window which saw plenty of new arrivals to the Italian top flight.

Napoli, for example, brought in players such as the aforementioned Higuain plus Raul Albiol, Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon.

Other big-name players to come to Italy include the likes of Mario Gomez, Kevin Strootman and Carlos Tevez, while Stevan Jovetic, Marquinhos and Erik Lamela all said farewell to Serie A.

	League	Revenue	Expenditure	Total
	La Liga	€492.6m	€390m	€102.6m
	Serie A	€412.8m	€409.7m	€3.1m
	Bundesliga	€204.6m	€263.3m	€-58.7m
	Ligue 1	€229.1m	€378.9m	€-149.8m
	Premier League	€275.4m	€762.7m	€-487.3m

Elsewhere, the Bundesliga had to settle for a €58.7m loss following the arrival of players such as Thiago (Bayern Munich), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (both Borussia Dortmund). The exit of players such as Andre Schurrle and Gomez were not enough to make up for the heavy spending of both title candidates.

Unsurprisingly, Ligue 1 saw plenty of cash leave the country due to the Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco's powerful stance on the transfer market.

PSG lured the likes of Cavani and Marquinhos to France, while Claudio Ranieri's side secured the services of Falcao, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez among others.

The most notable departures include Aubameyang, Etienne Capoue, Younes Belhanda and Josuha Guilavogui.

However, the Premier League take the title of this summer's big spenders, with a large part of their expenditure coming on deadline day as Arsenal snapped up Ozil.

Manchester City also spent their fair share of money, though, as they lured Fernandino, Jovetic, Negredo and Navas to England, while Chelsea brought in Schurrle and Willian.

Liverpool (Mamadou Sakho, Iago Aspas and Tiago Ilori) and Tottenham (Lamela, Soldado, Paulinho and Christian Eriksen) both spent big as well in their attempts to win Champions League qualification and even Southampton spent over €30m on foreign signings as they snapped up Victor Wanyama, Dejan Lovren and Pablo Osvaldo.

On the other hand, high-profile departures include the inevitable Bale, Tevez and Gervinho, but Premier League sides in general recouped very little money from transfers abroad compared to their spending.

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Van Persie: I will play for another 10 years

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie  believes that he has what it takes to play for another 10 years. MANCHESTER UNITED LATEST 12/1 Man Utd are 12/1 with Paddy Power to win the Champions League The Netherlands international, 30 years old, is confident that next summer's World Cup in Brazil will not be his final major tournament for Oranje. "We want to do better over there then at the European [Championships]," he told NUSport. "At least, I want that, and after that I want to do it better again. That's how I am."The World Cup won't be my last big tournament. I've never had a major injury, hardly any muscle problems. I will play for another 10 years." The former Arsenal man cites the influence of Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs as a source of motivation in prolonging his playing career. "Yes, serious, that's my goal when I feel myself like I do now," he continued. "It's a drive for me when I see Ryan Giggs train every day fantastic and play fantastic."

West Brom outcast Odemwingie joins Cardiff

Cardiff have completed the signing of West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie, subject to Premier League ratification. The Nigerian forward had been linked with moves to Swansea and Stoke during the transfer window but Malky Mackay has won the race for the 32-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal. Odemwingie becomes Cardiff's eighth new signing since their promotion to the Premier League and will provide added firepower, having scored 30 goals in his three-year spell at the Hawthorns. Cardiff City Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of Peter Odemwingie from West Bromwich Albion," read a statement from the club. "Peter completed his medical on Monday afternoon and will link up with his new team-mates later this week." Odemwingie had fallen out of favour at West Brom after he tried to force through a move to QPR in January, and he is pleased to have been given the chance to make a "fresh start" with the Premier League new boys. "I'm delighted to complete my move to Cardiff City. I'm looking forward to this fresh start at a club that is really going places, a team that's progressing fast," Odemwingie told the club's website. "My father-in-law is a City fan and he's told me what a great club this is. I'm looking forward to meeting up with the boys and then start preparing for the trip to Hull after the international break. "I've seen a little bit of the city and I know that my wife and I will really enjoy living in Cardiff. I can't wait to get started - this move makes me very happy.

West Brom seal £6m Anichebe signing

Everton have confirmed that striker Victor Anichebe has joined West Brom for £6 million on a three-year deal. In a complicated set of events, the Toffees clinched the loan signing of Romelu Lukaku, who at one stage looked to be heading to the Hawthorns. However, after the Chelsea striker opted to move to Goodison Park on loan Steve Clarke stepped in to sign the Nigeria international. The Baggies also broke their transfer record earlier in the day, snapping up Stephane Sessegnon from Sunderland adding to an attack that has yet to score in the Premier League this season. Clarke acquired free agent Lee Camp and wrapped up a deal for Morgan Amalfitano on a season-long loan earlier on Monday. Anichebe was in his ninth year at Goodison Park and scored 26 goals in 168 appearances for the club

Victor Moses excited to join Liverpool

New Liverpool signee Victor Moses has expressed excitement at joining up with the Reds on transfer deadline day.

The Nigeria international made a late move to Anfield Road after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea since the return of Jose Mourinho to the side.

Moses will spend a year in Liverpool without the option of a permanent deal, something which shows he might still have a future at Stamford Bridge.

“Really excited to be joining Liverpool this season and can't wait to make my debut now,” Moses tweeted with a photo of him holding up the club’s jersey on Monday.

The 23-year-old is key to Nigeria’s plans for next year’s World Cup and will see this move to Liverpool as a means to guarantee playing time in preparation for Brazil.

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With Gareth Balw and Cristiao Ronaldo Champions League is Our

Real Madrid can win both La Liga and the Champions League with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo together in the same side, claims the club's former goalkeeping great Paco Buyo. Bale completed his €100 million move  from Tottenhamon Sunday in a world-record deal which surpasses the €94m Madrid paid for Ronaldo in 2009. That means Madrid now boast the world's two most expensive players and Buyo believes the sky is the limit for his former club. "It's a new project, a new playing and working philosophy," the 55-year-old told Goal.  "Bale is a fantastic footballer," he added. "He is fast, he can beat others and he has been one of the best players in the Premier League. He will give a lot to Madrid - it's a fantastic signing." And while former Madrid president Ramon Calderon claimed last month that Bale was being brought in as a long-term replacement for Ronaldo, Buyo sees the two men together in a successful side at the Santiago Bernabeu. "I see Ronaldo staying," he said. ". "With Bale and Ronaldo, Madrid will have a fantastic team which can win La Liga and the Champions League as well. They can aspire to winning it all and it will be a joy to watch for the fans."

Gerrard urges Suarez: Join Barcelona, Bayern or Real Madrid... not Arsenal

Steven Gerrard has urged Luis Suarez to leave Liverpool when the times comes with "his head held high" and join one of Europe's elite sides but not a Premier League rival. Arsenal have seen two bids for the Uruguayan rejected - the latest being £40,000,001 in an attempt to trigger a supposed release clause - only for Arsene Wenger to recently admit defeat in the pursuit. And Gerrard is confident Suarez will now stay at Anfield for at least another season and he does not class any potential move to the Emirates Stadium as a step forward for the striker. LIVERPOOL LATEST 25/1 Luis Suarez is 25/1 with bet365 to be Premier League top scorer this season "Luis had a decision to make for himself and hopefully he will decide the best thing is to stay here for a little bit longer," Gerrard told The Guardian.

"I understand we're a little bit off the Champions League at the moment but it would be a shame to ruin the relationship he has got with the supporters to go to another English club. I saw what happened to Fernando Torres, I don't think he should make that type of move and that's the advice I gave to him."

Gerrard also thanked the Liverpool fans for continuing to back Suarez despite the former Ajax man making no secret of his desire to leave the club, and now hopes he will show some recognition to the supporters.

VICTOR MOSES HEADING TO LIVERPOOL

Super Eagles forward Victor Moses has reportedly completed his move from Stamford Bridge to join Merseyside club Liverpool. Chelsea FC and Liverpool according to reports have agreed to a £1m season-long loan deal for the Nigerian who seem to have fallen off the pecking order since Jose Mourinho’s return to the Bridge this summer. Moses, 22, is not seen as part of Jose Mourinho's plans and was not included in Chelsea's squad for the European Super Cup against Bayern Munich on Friday. The forward signed for Chelsea from Wigan Athletic for £10m a year ago.